"Since it's already been given away, it's not going to be taken back. If you don't want it, just throw it away."
"Why are you throwing away so much stuff?"
"You said you didn't want it, so naturally you threw it away. What does it have to do with me?"
"You! Did you come here specifically to annoy me? Fine, fine, I'll take it." Seeing that Zhao Moyan was unyielding, Tian Yu didn't want to continue and thought she would just accept it for now.
"Come here and sit down!"
“I can just stand here and carry it, it’s the same.”
"Come here, sit down!" Seeing Zhao Moyan's gaze, Tian Yu gave in and obediently sat down next to him.
"Then I'll start memorizing. Do you want to take notes?" Tian Yu kindly handed over a pen and paper, but Zhao Moyan got up and put his arm around Tian Yu, taking the pen in her hand as well. Tian Yu was startled by his sudden closeness and dared not move, her breathing becoming tense. Zhao Moyan also took the paper in Tian Yu's hand with his other hand, placed the paper on the table, and then gently whispered in Tian Yu's ear: "You can start now."
Tian Yu was in a daze for a long time before she came to her senses. She shifted uncomfortably and said softly, "This poem is quite long. It was written by a poet named Li Bai and is called 'Bring in the Wine'."
Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return?
Do you not see the bright mirror in the high hall reflecting the sorrow of white hair, black as silk in the morning, turning to blood by evening?
Enjoy life to the fullest when you're successful; don't let your golden goblet stand empty before the moon.
Everyone has their own unique talents, and even if I spend all my money, it will come back again.
Let us feast on roasted lamb and slaughtered oxen, and drink three hundred cups of wine in one go.
Master Cen, Master Danqiu, let's drink! Don't stop drinking!
I'll sing you a song; please lend me your ear, sir.
Bells and drums…
Tian Yu didn't know how she memorized the poem, but it took her a long time. As Tian Yu recited a line, Zhao Moyan would hold her hand and write it down on the paper. Time seemed to quiet down, and the sounds of the wind, rain, and children's laughter outside disappeared. Only the sound of her reciting the poem line by line and the beating of their hearts remained. At first, Tian Yu was so nervous that she sat stiffly upright, but as she wrote, she saw that she could write such beautiful calligraphy under Zhao Moyan's guidance. Gradually, she relaxed, and the two naturally leaned against each other. Tian Yu followed Zhao Moyan's writing attentively, while Zhao Moyan, watching the woman in his arms relax and become quiet, smiled slightly and unconsciously moved closer.
All afternoon, Zhao Moyan kept finding various excuses to keep Tian Yu in the study practicing calligraphy. Tian Yu naturally didn't want to, but Tangyuan chimed in, saying, "Mother really should practice her calligraphy." Reluctantly, because of the rain, the whole family ended up practicing calligraphy in Tian Yu's study. After practicing for a while, Tian Yu wondered why it wasn't dark yet, and her bottom was starting to hurt. So, she pleaded with Zhao Moyan, "Mr. Zhao, why don't you take a break? My legs are numb."
Seeing Tian Yu's pitiful expression, Zhao Moyan smiled and said, "Okay, rest for a while, then continue."
"Okay, okay." Upon hearing this, Tian Yu immediately got up and stretched, but in her heart she was thinking that she shouldn't stay and write anymore.
Tangyuan and Xiaoju finished packing and stood up. Tianyu suggested, "Tangyuan, the box over there contains some books and paintings that your father gave you. Let's put them in your study."
"Okay, little sister, let's go together. Fluffy, you come too," Tangyuan said with a smile, taking Xiaoju's hand. Fluffy seemed to understand and got up, wagging its tail.
The three of them and the wolf opened the box containing the calligraphy and paintings and carried the items to Tangyuan's room to arrange them. A few items were left over and placed in Tianyu's room. Zhao Moyan joined in, helping to put the books on the bookshelf and hang up the calligraphy and paintings. Then, the other box of ornaments was arranged in every corner of the house. Tangyuan opened the last box first, but Tianyu closed it again, saying, "Let's leave this one for another day."
"Does Mother not like the things inside?"
"No, Mother thinks it's getting late and we should go prepare dinner."
"Go prepare dinner, leave this to us," Zhao Moyan said, having finished setting out his things at some point, as he walked up to Tian Yu.
"Hehehe, let's forget it. Why don't you come and help me prepare dinner? I can't manage it all by myself."
"Don't you usually live alone?" Zhao Moyan asked seriously.
"Who said that? Chen Chong helps out all the time."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Moyan pulled Tian Yu away, not forgetting to say to Tangyuan, "Tangyuan, that's all for today. Your mother and I will go prepare dinner. You and your sister can play in the living room, but don't break your mother's things."
Before Tian Yu could react, she was pulled into the kitchen. She wondered what was wrong with Zhao Moyan, why he had suddenly changed his attitude. After looking around the kitchen for a while, still unsure what to have for dinner, she turned to ask Zhao Moyan, who replied that anything was fine.
Since he said it was up to him, Tian Yu simply cooked some lean meat porridge. Zhao Moyan was in charge of tending the fire, while Tian Yu prepared the ingredients. After everything was ready, Tian Yu looked at Zhao Moyan, who was squatting down tending the fire, and said, "I'll accept those two boxes as a gift for the glutinous rice balls. You should take the other box back."
"No, consider it your dowry."
"I don't want it. We're not related, I can't accept your things."
"Not related by blood? You are Tangyuan's mother. Although we are divorced, you are still my ex-wife. Now that you are remarrying, how can your dowry be so meager? Do you want people to laugh at me?"
This was the first time Tian Yu had heard Zhao Moyan refer to himself as "Lord Marquis" in front of her, and she was momentarily at a loss for words. She could only acquiesce, but then added, "I want to go to the county town tomorrow."
"Okay, I also have something to go back to."
Don't you want to know what I'm going to do?
"I don't want to know. You'll tell me if you want to."
"I've been too busy lately. I want to take Tangyuan and Xiaoju to explore the county town properly, and while we're at it, we can also buy some things."
Zhao Moyan paused noticeably as he handed over the firewood before slowly saying, "Okay, I'll come with you if I have time."
"No need, you go about your business, we're just browsing."
Tian Yu suddenly felt a sense of suffocation in the kitchen. Zhao Moyan also fell silent. Fortunately, the rice was cooked quickly, and Tian Yu hurriedly went to call Tangyuan and the others to wash their hands and eat. The rain outside continued to fall. After dinner, the family of four read together for a while before resting.
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